Vapor rectifier system.



U. P. STBINMETZ. VAPOR BEGTIHER SYSTEM. APPLICATION 1 1L212 JUNE 21, 1-907.

Patented May 30, 1911.

2 sums-sans: 1.

JAZVLNTUH. CHARLES F STEINMETZ.

ATTK

C. P. STEINMETZ.

VAPOR RECTIFIER SYSTEM.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 21, 1907.

993,899. PatentedMay 30,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I I -Z9 l T X WITNESSES-"- I INK/ENTER I UNITED sr 'rEs PATENT OFFICE- CHARLES P. STEINMETZ, OF SGHENE C'IA DY,' NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION .OF NEW YORK.

i vAreR nncrrrrnn SYSTEM.

To all whom it may concern; I

Be it known that 1, CH RLES P. STnrN- METZ, a citizen of the United States, reslding at Schenectady, county of Schenectady,

State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vapor Rectifier Systems, of which the following is aspecification. v

My present invention relates to systems utilizing vapor electric devices, and more particularly to'systems wherein alternatingcurrent is rectified by a vapor device and then delivered as unidirectional current to a load circuit.

-According to my present invention, the system is provided with reactive means connected in circuit with theanodes of the rectifier whereby the rectifier is maintained continuously operative on a source of alternating-current and whereby the rectified current is rendered less pulsating, and also whereby the system is rendered efi'icient' and reliable and possessed of other desired characteristics, as hereinafter pointed out.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure illustrates a constant current rectifier system embodying my invention; Fig. 2 shows diagrams representing the wave forms of magneto-motive-force in various parts of the system; and Fig. 3 illustrates a modified arrangement-of the system.

The system shown in Fig. 1 comprises constant current transformer 1 having a fixed primary winding 2 supplied with en-' ergy at constant potential, and also having a floating secondary winding 5 from which energy is supplied to other parts of the system through the terminals 1- and 5 and the central tap 6. The vapor rectifier 7, included in the system, is of ordinary type having anodes 8 and 9 and a mercury cathode 10. The rectifier may be excited by means of auxiliary anodes 11 and 12 receiving energy from an exciting transformer 13 in a manner now well understood in the art. A series consumption circuit let is connected between the mercury cathode 10 and the central tap 6 ofthe transformer secondary 3, and may include lamps or other devices adapted to operate on substantially constant current. Interposed between the mercury rectifier 7 and the transformer leads 4 and 5 are the reactance devices 15, 16 and 17. Reactances 15 and 16' are connect-- ed in series with their respective leads at .Specification'of Letters Patent. Patented :May 30, 1911, Application filed June 21, .1907. Serial No.;380,0G3. i

and 5, but reactance 17 has a double wind- 1ng and exerts an influence on both the anode circuits. One leg of reactance 17 is wound with a coil 18 traversed bythe pulsating current delivered to anode 8, while the opposite leg is wound with a coil 19 traversed by the pulsations delivered to anode 9. The two coils 18 and 19 areso disposed on thecore that they magnet-ize in the same direct-ion, that is, in a direction to increase the total flux throughout the entire magnetic circuit of the reactance. To preyent saturation of the core, I prefer to make it in two parts separated by air gaps as indicated in the drawing. Owing to the shape of the core, a certain amount of magnetic leakage takes place around each of the windings 18 and 19 and consequently each winding operates on its own pulsating current much as reactances 15 and 16 operate on their respective currents. In addition to this leakage effect, the two coils cooperate to maintain a magnetic flux throughout the entire iron path of reactance17 and thereby operate to smooth out the current in the load circuit 14;. For a better understanding of be had to Fig. 2 in which curve I indicates the magneto-motive-force wave of coil 1 when delivering current to anode \8, and curve II, indicates the corresponding wave for coil 19. The port-ions of the waves overlapping the vertical lines of the figure correspond to the overlap produced by-the coils.

Curve III shows the resultant magneto-mot ive-force, and therefore magnetic flux in the core of reactance 17. By arranging the two windings of reactance 17 so that the magneto-motive-force waves of .the two coils are in the same direction, the elfect ofvery high inductance is produced without high electromotive-force of self induction, and therefore without impairment of the power factor.

' It will be readily understood that the alternating-current reactances 15 and 16 may be dispensed with by properly designing transformer 1 so that the secondary has a high internal inductance; or if so desired, the transformer may furnish part of the inductance and reactances 15 and 16 may be made small and just sufficient to supply the remainder. It is also possible to dispense entirely with reactances 15 and 16 and to rely .on reactance 17 for producing the desired overlapping in the current pulsations delivered to the several anodes of the rectifier, for, as previously pointed out, the sep arate coils l8 and. 19 set up a leakage flux about themselves, of the same character as. thefiux in coils 15' and16, and this flux glves each coil, a reactive characteristic, and it follows, that by. designing thisreactance to increase the. leaka'ge flux-bet een the coils it is possible to greatly vary heinfluence of the r'eactance on the energy supplied the rectifier. One mode of varyingthe design of 16830123110617 to produce the" above mentioned effect, is shown in Fig. 8, in which reactanceQO is provided with a third leg 21 actihg as a magnetic shunt for the windings 2 2 'and23. The system shown in Fig.

former having primary coils 24 and'25' and secondary coils 26 and 27. The secondaries are connected together to formJa-neutral point-28 to which current is returned from the series consumption circuit' 29. A reactance 30 in series 'Wlllh bot-h prlmarles otthe' transformer, furnishes-a means for regulating the energy supplied and serves, within reasonable limits, to automatically'control 30 the current transmitted by the mercuryrec tifier .31 to the series consumption circuit 29. From the preceding, it .will, be understood that by virtue-of the automatic regulation afforded by reactance 30, the series '35 consumption circuit 29 is supplied with current of substantially constant amperage,

and furthermore,'it will be'unders tood that' 'the load current is free from violent pulsations because of the smoothing action of re- 40 actance 20 connected to the anode side of t e vapor device. This latter regulating action is quite independent of any reaetance in the load circuit, and even though the path from the rectifier cathode 32. to the transformer neutral 2 S m ay be inductionless, a relatively smooth current wave is obtained therein,

By'eonnec ting the mercurycathode di.

rectly to the load circuit through a non-in- .du'ctive path, the cathode is not subject to the static-strains which might occur if'th'at path were of high reactance.

' What I claim. as .new and desire to'secure .by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is,- 1: The combination ofa consumption circuit, a vapor rectifier supplyingcurrent thereto, a source ofenergy for said rectifier, a magnetizable core, and means connected between said source and said rectifier to" maintain a high magneto-motive-force 6p throughout said core,

2. The combination with a rectifier have differs in s'ome. other respects from that illustrated in-Fig. "1, more particularly in the source from which; energy'is supplied; 20 In Fig. 3 the source consists of transeeaeee ing a plurality of anodes, of a source of current therefor and reactive means between said sourceand said anodes wound to magnetize in the same direction for current to either anode.

3 The combination ofa consumption circuit,"a vaporrectifier connected therewith, a source of current for said rectifier, and reactive means for smoothing the current pulsations 'in said load circuit, said reactive means being on the anode side of said rectificr and being continuously energized.

14. The combination witlfa load'circuit, of f a .vapor rectifier connected therewith, anodes for said rectifier, a magnetizable core, and" windings on SaId'QOIG connected to'dehver energy firom said core to either of said:

anodes to suppress current 'said load circuit.- v

5.;The combination of a load circuit, a vapor rectifier connected therewith, and a current smoothing rea'ctance for the load pulsations in tun-em connected on the. anode "side of the rectifier and having separate-l coils for each anode circuit, said coils being wound to 'magnetize "in the same direction,

Gl'The combination of a transformer, a

vaporrectifier having anodes receiv-ingenI- ergy therefrom,a reactive winding in circuit with each anode, and a magnetlzable core energized cumulatively by a plurality of 'said windings.

7. The combination of a source of current, a vapor rectifier having anodes connectedtherewith, a reactive-coil ,in circuit.

with each anode; and a magnetizable core' cpmmon to said coils and thereby magnetwhile permitting mag- I netic leakage about each of said coils.

ized cumulatively 8. The combinatio-nwith a rectifier havlng a plurality'of anodes, source of ourrent therefor, and reactive means connected mounted on a different part of said magne:

tizable core, said coils magnetizing said core 7 in the same direction.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my'hand this 19th day. ofjJ'une, 1907 CHARLES I r. sTEiNMETz.

Witnesses:

BENJAMIN B. HULL, HELEN Onroiu). 

